And Gait Barrows, Hutton Roof and Farleton, Leighton Moss,Arnside Knott and everywhere else as well. Here is my blog of records, Articles, Sketches, Poems and photographs which I would love to share with you. In the main my blog refers to Nature subjects within this most beautiful North Lancs/Cumbria areas, but may from time to time also include out of the area stuff, including the most beautiful GOA (India). Life is for living and loving...

Tuesday, 25 July 2017

Lempet 55 no longer with us plus other Orchids

Tuesday 25th July 2017 - Hutton Roof 1000hrs to 1200hrsMapped all the Broad Leaved Helleborines along the escarpment areas 23 in total of which 9 are inactive through predation and 14 are active within flower and bud or bud only.It is like playing Russian roulette some days going up on this particular part of Hutton Roof not knowing just what to expect and at times it just a question of waiting your turn! let me try and explain. Today it must have been my turn or should I say the turn of our splendid specimen No.55, I went to check on the second most precious of "lempets" which is No.55 - dark green stem and stands at 20" in height and has 40 flowers (remember our most prestige No.66 (green stem fell victim of "rust" which attached the rootstock some 3 weeks earlier). Well this time with 55 which is also a close by specimen of 66 has either been attacked at the root stock or alternatively it has been trampled on. It is more than probable it has been attacked at the base by slugs although to be honest with you when I see predation by slugs it is normally a straight cut across not unlike the deer, and usually a slug will cut further up the stem and very rarely at the ground level, and more important there is usually a trace of "slug slime" which generally gives the show away by evidence. On this occasion slug slime was not present and neither was the cut straight across and neither was the cut partway up the stem, so I hold reservation on "slug" predation. So I thought perhaps it's been trampled over which may well prove to be the case although, if the plant was trampled you would normally see damage both at the base and also further up the stem as well and not just at the very base of the plant. So for now I am left wondering! but what a setback for the programme! Fortunately lots and lots of pollination will have already taken place with the many bees and hover flies which will have serviced the plant. However sadly the seed situation will now be lost. I did check the ovaries which are quite bulging and did split the ovary to check the seed bank, but unfortunately it looks far too early and as yet the multitude of seed are still creamy and congealed and have not reached the position of drying out prior to natural distribution. I did last check the plant maybe four days ago and all was well, so obviously this setback has only occurred in recent days. Here is a photo of this years (July 8th 2017) Lempet No.55 which shows the plant at its very best.

Specimen Lempet 55 on 8th July 2017 (Click over to enlarge)

This is again of 55 showing a more close up of the Lemon-Petalled flowers

And this was the specimen today (see photo below), flattened over to the floor and broke off and possibly the victim of a slug predation at the base or a flattening by someone or something treading on the specimen. Whichever the specimen was loose to the ground and I did retrieve the damaged specimen (may I add under permit/licence) which it is now to be used for ongoing studies and likely for "dna" profiling studies.Here is a photo showing the full damaged plant, and followed by close ups of the base of the same plant.

This was No.55 collected today (Click to enlarge)
If you click over to enlarge you will see the packed bulging ovaries

The cut is not representative of neither deer and hare and is more likely to be either slug predation or trampling

Showing a split ovary from No.55 and the seed bank which at the moment is still very moist

So now we can move on and check out Specimen Lempet No.74 (photo below) which still looks stunning and is safe from any predation and seems to be liking its new home (security cage around it) and would still warrant a good photo, but did not want to disturb so took this photo whilst the specimen kept caged.

Specimen No. 74 (Lemon Petalled) today 25th July 2017

Below shows the new "Pallans" (100 yards NW of boulder) which I found a couple of weeks ago and I decided the check out the ovaries on this today and very pleased they are bulging out nicely as I am sure you will agree.

Showing bulged ovaries of the new "Pallans"

Below is "Escarp Juniper" which is still showing well today and quite late now for a atrorubens, but this one always likes to be "late".

Escarp Juniper hiding within his Juniper canopy (Click over to enlarge)

Escarp Juniper still showing well today (Click over to enlarge)

This is always a little beauty which is set within its own limestone shallow gryke and does have little beautiful offspring at only a foot or two away. Of particular interest is how the edges of its leaves and either burnt or have taken on rust!

Interesting small helleborine showing burn or rust to the edges of its leaves

Facebook and Twitter

Or better still I have now created a facebook page dedicated to run alongside the "I Love Arnside and Silverdale Blog". The page has been set up so that I can keep regular Notices of current blogs on the site which I will try and do by linking across. Occasionally I will also put on old blogs that may bear relation to current topics etc, also one of the main advantages is so that members can participate and comment and add information themselves should they so wish.

Vismig - Visible Migration (Birds)

For almost 30 years I have been interested in bird migration and have each year, especially in Autumn done vismig counts of moving birds through our Area. Up until recently I was counting down at Haslingden in Rossendale and more recently I have been enjoying counting at Hutton Roof (accessed from Clawthorpe) and closeby to my new home in Burton In Kendal.

If you are further interested in vismig and want to check out the "vismig" site then click here.

The authorative vismig record site is Trektellen which offers full reports from the UK and also all over Europe click here.

"Redwings to the left of me, Fieldfares to the right..." - If you would like to read the recent vismig article by Clive McKay and recently published in Birdguides, then click here. (local records mentioned)....

Followers

Autumnwatch 2014

Media

If you want to check out my time on BBC Autumnwatch Extra at Leighton Moss 2014 with Brett Westwood Please Click Here (Film is for approx 20 mins duration)

If you want to check out my time on BBC Autumnwatch Extra at Leighton Moss 2013 with Euan Mcilwraith Please Click Here (Film is for approx 20 mins duration)

If you want to check out my time on BBC News for the finding of the rare Holly Fern after 56 years, with Beccy Meehan Please Click Here (Film is for approx 1min 20seconds)

A lovely film showing both of the rare Holly Ferns which was made and given to me as a gift by my good friend Brian Gomm of Kendal. Please click here to check it out. (Film is for approx 6 mins duration)

If you want to check out the Great Grey Shrike film in Dalton Crags. Made by Fraser and guess what! I do seem to recognise the owd chap at the beginning. Please click here.

Fraser also made another short film about the Great Grey Shrike Part 2 in Dalton/Hutton Roof. Shows the Shrike actually impaling a lizard. Please click here

Scotch Argus

Arnside Knott 6th Aug 2009

Autumn Leaves

Dalton 5th Nov 2010

Smoked Sunbeams

Arnside Knott - 31st Aug 2010

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary

Warton Crag 3rd July 2009

Marsh Helliborine

Carnforth 6th July 2011.

Items for Sale

Grasses, Ferns, Mosses & Lichens by Roger Phillips - A well used book but still a good reference, please contact me for further details. Good price for this much wanted book even in this condition £9.99 local delivery only.

Other Books for sale

From Fell and Field - A History of the Westmorland County Show 1799-1999 - Roger Bingham - Cicerone Paperback - Very Clean £8

The flowering plants and ferns of North Lancashire by L.A. & P.D. Livermore. Excellent reference and a very clean copy. For sale at £20 buyer collect or arrange delivery.

New Naturalist 1-10 Facsimile Collection - In NEW condition and a real bargain at £250 (Normal £500-750). Please note I do only have the one set available. Buyer Collect or maybe could deliver if local. Please contact me for further details.

Simpson's Flora Of Suffolk (Suffolk Naturalist Society) 537 page hardback, used but in good average condition. A bargain at £6.99.

Falconry & Hawking by Philip Glasier (third edition), A hardback of 352 pages in excellent condition. A bargain at £20.00

RHS Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Very large hardback with 744 pages, used but in excellent condition. £35 on issue, my price £9.99. Buyer collect on may be able to do local delivery only

Wainwright - In The Valleys Of Lakeland. His last book. Used but clean hardback 216 pages. My price £4.99. buyer collect or maybe local delivery only

Great Feedback:

Shiela Newton (Newcastle)16th Aug 2011

I was researching Stock Ghyll Force, Ambleside – and I googled a link to your blog. I just had to write and say – WOW! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful knowledge – and your love of the countryside.

from Kate Schofield. 1st April 2012 I Just wanted to tell you how much I'm enjoying your blog! I stumbled on it while googling Hale Moss and now I'm hooked and keep returning! I buy from farms in Arnside, Silverdale & Yealand Conyers, but dont get to spend as much time in the area as I would like. I'm finding your blog NEARLY as good as being there. Kind Regards, Kate Schofield.

Geoff E (Lancaster) 13th April 2012 Hi Bryan, Just wanted to send my greetings and thanks for such wonderful springtime offerings on your blogs which I can't tell you how much they are appreciated. I check them almost daily and never fail to wonder at your dedication and knowledge of wildlife. Take care..... you are a wonder.... and keep up the good work. Best wishes Geoff.

Mo Richards - 25th March 2014 Hi Bryan,

Felt it was about time to say how enjoyable your blog is, its not fair to go on looking at it without sending an appreciation.

Thought you might like to know that the Flora of Cumbria Indoor meet last Saturday, Geoffrey Halliday said that your refind of the Holly Fern on Hutton Roof last year was the highlight of the Cumbria botanical year.